I remember Meal Maker from childhood, those soya chunks made frequent appearance in many of the dishes that Amma made. Those were the days when I was eating meat and remember the meal maker soya chunks being included in all vegetable biryanis and gravies. Since it tasted and looked very much like meat, it made a great impact on many of us. I am not sure why Amma stopped using this in her cooking.
It's been almost 20 years or more since I have last seen it being used in our home. Of course this time it was me who was cooking. I remembered this again after seeing my office cook using it in her famous Vegetable Biryani. She makes one awesome biryani and adding these soya chunks makes everybody assume it to be a non veg biryani and enjoy it even more.
Talking to hubby dear about protein and how important it is to include in our diet, when he was recently on a veg diet, he wanted me to get these soya chunks for him. After buying a packet of these soya chunks, I naturally wanted to see the different ways I can include. The first one would obviously be the vegetable rice. And that's what I made. Looking back, maybe I added more in my enthusiasm. Also I assumed my boys will not find out the difference but I was wrong. They knew it right away that it wasn't meat and wouldn't eat it. So in the end hubby dear ended up eating the major part of the soya.
Soya Vegetable Biryani
Ingredients needed:
For the Soya Chunks
Soya - 1 cup
Water - 4 cups
Salt a pinch
For the Rice:
Short grain Rice / Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Onions, chopped as julinne - 1/2 cup
Tomatoes - 1 medium
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 3/4 tsp
Green Chilles - 4 nos
Mixed Vegetables, chopped - 1 cup (Carrot, Beans Potatoes)
Water - 1 & 3/4 cups
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Ghee - 2 tsp
Mint Leaves - handful
Coriander leaves - handful
Coriander Leaves - for garnishing
Garam Masala - 1 pinch
Whole Spices
Bay Leaf - 1
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cloves - 2
Cardomon - 1
Javatri -
Anise Star - 1
How to make Soya Chunk Biryani.
Take the soya in enough water and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Drain the water and keep the soya chunks aside. You may have to check if it's cooked or not. Else cook again.
For the Rice.
Clean and soak rice for 15 mins in water. Wash and prep the vegetables and keep it aside.
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Add all the whole spices. Saute well, then add the onions, Green Chillies. Sauté till the onions become brown in colour.
Then add ginger garlic paste. Fry for 1 min, then add the mint leaves, coriander leaves. After that add chopped tomatoes, salt, chilli powder, saute well till mushy.
Next goes the Vegetables, salt and chilli powder. Fry for 5 mins with lid covered.
Now add the drained soya chunks, saute well and simmer for 5 mins. Let the soya get mixed well with the masalas.
Once the soya looks done, add the water, bring to boil. When the water starts rolling, add drained rice and cover. Simmer till the cook is cooked well.
It takes about 10 - 15 mins for the rice and the vegetables to get cooked well. When it's almost done, add the ghee and cover again.
Keep it in the vessel for 5 to 10 mins, so that it gets settled down.
Serve with Onion raita.
For the Soya Chunks
Soya - 1 cup
Water - 4 cups
Salt a pinch
For the Rice:
Short grain Rice / Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Onions, chopped as julinne - 1/2 cup
Tomatoes - 1 medium
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 3/4 tsp
Green Chilles - 4 nos
Mixed Vegetables, chopped - 1 cup (Carrot, Beans Potatoes)
Water - 1 & 3/4 cups
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Ghee - 2 tsp
Mint Leaves - handful
Coriander leaves - handful
Coriander Leaves - for garnishing
Garam Masala - 1 pinch
Whole Spices
Bay Leaf - 1
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cloves - 2
Cardomon - 1
Javatri -
Anise Star - 1
How to make Soya Chunk Biryani.
Take the soya in enough water and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Drain the water and keep the soya chunks aside. You may have to check if it's cooked or not. Else cook again.
For the Rice.
Clean and soak rice for 15 mins in water. Wash and prep the vegetables and keep it aside.
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Add all the whole spices. Saute well, then add the onions, Green Chillies. Sauté till the onions become brown in colour.
Then add ginger garlic paste. Fry for 1 min, then add the mint leaves, coriander leaves. After that add chopped tomatoes, salt, chilli powder, saute well till mushy.
Next goes the Vegetables, salt and chilli powder. Fry for 5 mins with lid covered.
Now add the drained soya chunks, saute well and simmer for 5 mins. Let the soya get mixed well with the masalas.
Once the soya looks done, add the water, bring to boil. When the water starts rolling, add drained rice and cover. Simmer till the cook is cooked well.
It takes about 10 - 15 mins for the rice and the vegetables to get cooked well. When it's almost done, add the ghee and cover again.
Keep it in the vessel for 5 to 10 mins, so that it gets settled down.
Serve with Onion raita.
Sending this to Dish it Out - Soy and Tomatoes hosted by Vardhini
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#10
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